Russian Interior Ministry Says It Has Shut Down Online Drug Market

RAMP had been operating on the Dark Web, part of the Internet that is accessible only with certain software. (file photo)

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Russian Interior Ministry Says It Has Shut Down Online Drug Market

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Russian police say they have eradicated a major online marketplace for illegal drug purchases.

In a document made available to some Russian media outlets on September 19, the Interior Ministry informed lawmakers that the operations of an online network known as the Russian anonymous marketplace (RAMP) were "completely halted" in July.

The document was a letter sent by Deputy Interior Minister Mikhail Vanichkin to Anton Gorelkin, a State Duma lawmaker, in response to a query from members of the lower house of parliament.

RAMP had operated since 2012 on the Dark Web, part of the Internet that is accessible only with certain software and is usually used anonymously.

Vanichkin's letter says police launched a special operation to stop RAMP following high-profile media reports revealing the details of the online store's operations.

No more details about the operation were given.

The letter also said that some 3,775 drug-related crimes committed via the Internet had been uncovered so far in 2017, leading to the detention of 1,583 suspects and the seizure of more than 760 kilograms of illegal drugs.

It said that 1,345 websites used for selling drugs were shut down across Russia.